ONE hundred and thirty people were at Beenleigh Bowls Club last Saturday (JULY 24) to celebrate Marion Willmann’s 100th birthday.
Marion was born on July 27, 1921 at St Monica’s Private Hospital on York Street in Beenleigh to parents Charles Fredrick and Agnes Mary Leibinger.
Marion’s husband Norm died in 2009 at 90 and since then she has lived independently at their home.
For her first 15 years Mrs Willmann lived on the family dairy farm, Rosemount Farm at Belivah, and rode her pony to Bahrs Scrub and Wolffdene state schools.
When she was 16 her parents bought a milk run in Beenleigh where she assisted with milking and delivery.
During her life Marion has been involved with many community organisations including:-
- The Comfort Society in 1938, sending comfort packages to the troops overseas.
- During World War II she started the Beenleigh Women’s Auxiliary RSL where she was involved for 17 years.
- She was a Beenleigh Red Cross branch member for 25 years.
- Scout/cub leader.
- School tuck shops, both state school and high school.
- Blue Nursing committee.
- Secretary of the Beenleigh Pensioners League for five years.
- Beenleigh Senior Citizens member from 1998 and still actively involved mainly heading up the Trade Table.
She worked as a bookbinder and line proofreading at the Beenleigh News in the1940s.
Marion was Queensland Grandmother of the year in 1972, raising money for House with no Steps.
She modelled for fashion boutiques in Beenleigh to raise money for charities as well as working at Metcalf’s Shoe Store and Cobbity Farm bakery in City Road.
Marion had six children, two boys and four girls, with one son tragically taken from her in 1949.
Over the years she helped at community street stalls and she gave long service to local cubs by initially filling in when the group leader was on maternity leave.
Many of Marion’s 61 descendants – five children, 12 grand children and 24 great children were present to help her celebrate her milestone where she reciaved a celebratory certificate from the Queen.
